New article evaluates biodiversity in and threats to Yasuni National Park (Ecuador)

A new article published in PLoS ONE has estimated the biodiversity of Yasuni National Park.  They found that “The area is: one of the two richest in the world for amphibian species, the second richest known to date for reptiles, within the top nine richest centers for vascular plants (and the top center for trees and shrubs), among the richest lowland areas for birds, high in mammal richness (particularly for bats), and very rich in fish species.” (Bass et al. 2010, p. 7)

They continue, “What makes Yasunı even more special is the potential to sustain this biodiversity in the long term due to its 1) large size and wilderness character, 2) intact largevertebrate assemblage, 3) IUCN level-II protection status in a region lacking other strictly protected areas, and 4) likelihood to maintain wet, rainforest conditions as climate change-induced drought intensifies in the eastern Amazon.” (Bass et al. 2010, p. 13)

They conclude, “Our findings…form the scientific basis for the following five policy recommendations. 1) Permit no new roads nor other transportation access routes…within Yasunı National Park or its buffer zone. 2) Permit no new oil exploration or development projects in Yasunı… 3) Create protected biological corridors from Yasunı to nearby higher elevation Andean parks for species on the move due to climate change. 4) Create a system of strict protected areas and no-go zones… in the northern Peruvian Amazon. 5) Establish a protected corridor between Yasunı and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve that, together with the Peruvian reserves, would form a trans-boundary megareserve with Yasunı National Park at its core.” (Bass et al. 2010, p. 16)

To read the entire article click here.

Bass MS, Finer M, Jenkins CN, Kreft H, Cisneros-Heredia DF, et al. (2010) Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park. PLoS ONE 5(1): e8767. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008767

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